Pope John Paul may be on his way to becoming the people's saint.
John Paul was known as the people's pope. Now he may well be on his way to becoming the people's saint.
If you're thinking that's awful quick, you're right. Normally there is a five-year waiting period after a person dies before he or she can be considered for beatification, a step on the way to sainthood. But Pope Benedict waived that time after the crowd shouted "Sainthood Now," at John Paul's funeral.
In order to be beatified, then canonized, the church must study the writings and deeds of the person for purity. But that isn't enough. A miracle must be attributed to that person's intercession. Here's where it gets tricky. Although we refer in our vernacular to miracles all the time, the church takes this term very seriously. An investigation that would make Watergate look like a grade-school project needs to take place.
That investigation is underway in the case of Pope John Paul. You see, a nun from The Little Sisters of the Maternity has come forward stating that it was she who was granted a miracle by praying to John Paul. She had suffered from Parkinson's disease. The sisters of her community prayed for her and two months after John Paul's death, she was cured.
So far there has been testimony, blood tests, physical exams, X-rays and every conceivable investigation into the woman's claim - all carried out by the church.
If it concludes that John Paul's intercession is the reason for her recovery, he will no doubt become a saint. I for one look forward to the fast tracking of this Pope into sainthood. He was a beacon of light, hope and understanding. He revived much of the church and brought many into it. He was a peacemaker who was unafraid to stand up to tyranny. I look forward to praying to Saint John Paul.
